RECOMMENDATION 20220322-003a: EXPAND FUNDING FOR TWO-GENERATION BILINGUAL EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS — original pdf

Recommendation

HISPANIC/LATINO QUALITY OF LIFE RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20220322-3aⅰ EXPAND FUNDING FOR TWO-GENERATION BILINGUAL EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS Strategic Direction: Economic Opportunity & Affordability Date: March 22, 2022 Subject: FY23 Budget Recommendations Motioned by: Vigil Seconded by: Solis Recommendation to Council: Increase Austin Public Health’s funding for two-generation bilingual early childhood programs. Ensure locations like Del Valle have access to programs in their community. Background and Rationale: The City of Austin has an agreement with Any Baby Can of Austin, Inc. to provide early childhood services to enable families to achieve self-sufficiency. These services are provided to residents through 10 agencies that comprise the Ready Families Collaborative. There are a few service providers subcontracted to provide two-generation bilingual early childhood education services. AVANCE-Austin is one of the agencies tasked to provide such services. They serve approximately 30 clients with City of Austin funding. They provide parenting and early education classes; home-visitation and case management; transportation; and food for clients. The Camp Fire USA Balcones Council provides the Play to Learn two-generation parenting program, serving approximately 60 clients. The Literacy Coalition of Central Texas provides the Playing and Learning Strategies (PALS) program in multiple sites and classrooms, serving approximately 100 clients. Communities In Schools provides comprehensive dual generation family literacy programming, PAT home visiting, and Incredible Years group parenting classes. They serve roughly 175 clients. These programs combined serve approximately 365 clients. This is not adequate funding for high quality Spanish and bilingual (Spanish and English) early childhood education and services that also includes case management, parenting education, literacy and educational programming for parents, and community support. These programs help the child and parents by providing them with support in their preferred language. These programs help families establish networks of support. The programs are designed to assist under-resourced families of young children in overcoming isolation and lack of opportunity. With the pandemic, we have heard numerous stories of learning loss in grade school children; however, we must not forget about the valuable socialization and learning loss suffered by the youngest children. Children born just before and during the start of the pandemic are turning 2 and 3 years old. They did not have the same socialization opportunities afforded to children pre-COVID. Although providers pivoted to online services, not all clients had reliable internet service to access them. It was difficult to provide online services to young children. Online services cannot replace in-person interactions during these crucial developmental years. The need for in-person services has only increased. For: Afifi, Vigil, Solis, Garay, Ramirez, Perales, Silva Vote: Against:None Abstain: None Absent: Peña, Garcia Attest: _________________________________ Amanda Afifi, Chair